Ash receptacle



Dec. 15,1942. D. R. sTAMY ASH REGEPTACLE Filed July 31; 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR'. DAVID 57AM? MYM ATTORNEYS.

e 5, 2- v D. RQSTAMY 2,305,116

ASH RECEPTACLE Filed July 31. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DAVE? 1 5mm ATTORNEY .5

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,305,116

" AsH-R'ECEPTACLE g .DavidR. Stanly, Royal Oak, Mich, assignor 'to' Feltex Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,. a corp0ra- I tion of Michigan Application July 31, 1939, serial No. 287,574

10 Claims. (01. zos las) This invention relates to concealable compartments in wall supports and panels and especially to a concealable ash receiver for the interior of an automobile body.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel device in the form of a receptacle which forms when assembled upon the rear side of a wall or panel a. concealed compartment. Novel means is employed for removably assembling the receptacle upon the rear side of such wall or panel opposite an opening therein and for securing the parts in position against vibration and rattling movement. The receptacle is provided with a wall portion and a bottom portion supporting in a novel manner smoking equipment such as an ash receiver and a lighter.

An important feature is the provision of a novel closure member or cover for closing the opening through the wall or panel to the interior of the receptacle. The closure member is capable upon relatively slight finger pressure to be moved from a closed position at which it is flush with the front surface of the panel to which the receptacle is secured to a position interiorly of the panel exposing the receptacle and the equipment therein for use. Novel means is used for holding the closure member at any adjusted position and for releasably retaining the closure member at fully open or at fully closed position and with a, slightly greater resistance to change of position. A feature of importance is the provision for swinging the closure member to the rear side of the wall or panel and to one side of the receptacle while limiting the opening movement so that a marginal portion of the closure member projects from the front side of the panel for engagement by the fingers of the operator.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a dash panel of an automobile showing the position of the receptacle and the cover therefor in closed position, I

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View through the dash panel and receptacle along line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view along line 3-3 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of" the panel and receptacle along line 6+6 of Fig. 4, but with the closure plate shown in the closed position,

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the ash tray and the manner of mounting the same in the receptacle,

' for use in automobiles it will be described in such association, but it is understood that the invention may be applied to other uses. Referring to the drawings, the receptacle is preferably mounted upon the back side of a wall or panel of the motor vehicle,--a very convenient place being the dash panel shown at 10. The dash panel in the usual construction has a decorated front face such as, for example, that shown in Fig. l and a back side relatively inaccessible from the front compartment. In order to gain access to the receptacle formed in the present invention, the dash panel I0 is cut away to form an opening. This opening is closed by a movable closure member or cover [2 having approximately the same size and shape as the opening. Means is provided as will be described more particularly hereinafter for supporting the closure member for movement into a position substantially flush with the front face of the panel.

The receptacle forms a separate unit attachable to the rear side of a panel and comprises a pair of spaced side walls I l-l4, a back wall l6 and a bottom l8 preferably inclined downwardly from the back wall. The receptacle is open on the top and front side. Provided on the back wall of the dash panel on opposite sides of the opening are guiding tracks 2222 formed from strips of metal secured along their outer marginal edges to the back of the panel but having their inner marginal edges adjacent the opening spaced slightly from the back side of the dash panel to provide guiding slots. A similar strip of metal 24 is provided along the bottom edge of the opening in the dash panel. The

' the strips 22 and 24. As thus formed the receptacle is capable of being slid into position in the manner shown in Fig. 8 by first engaging the flanges of the'side walls under the strips 22-22 and then allowing the receptacle to drop into position.

A large area of the bottom I8 is cut away to provide a hole into which is slidably fitted an ash tray 30. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the hole in the bottom l8 and the ash tray are both of the same rectanguand any rattling vibration that might be set up.

Around the top edge of the tray 2, rolled over bead 34 is provided which, as shown in thedraw: ings, engages the bottom I8 and keeps the tray from completely falling through the hole in the bottom. The bead is formed of a single metal strip and integrally shaped therewith is a per forated snuffer 36 for removing ash from cigars and cigarettes. I

Mounted in the back wall [6 of the receptacle andaccessible to the opening of the dash panel is a lighter for cigars and cigarettes. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention herein, this lighter is of the electric form comprising a socket element 38 having its front open end projecting through a hole in the back wall 16. The front edges of the socket are provided with a rolled over bead 40 which engages the front surface of the back wall and holds the socket from withdrawal completely through the hole therein. An electric lighter element 42 of customary design is slidable in the socket and normally will not make contact with the electric terminals in the socket until it is pushed further into the socket against spring resistance. The usual translucent glass 44 is provided in the forward end of the lighter element to indicate when the element is heated sufficiently for use. The lead wire for delivering current to the socket is indicated at A bracket 48 is provided for drawing the socket into tight engagement with the back wall of the receptacle. This bracket is of U-shape formation and is mounted so that its front edges abut the rear side of the back wall l6. A nut 50 is threaded to the terminal 52 on the rear end of the socket. Thus upon tightening the nut 50, the socket is drawn through the hole in the back Wall until the bead 49 on its front end tightly engages the front surface of the back wall preventing any vibration or rattling movement in use.

A bracket member 54 encircles the receptacle from one side to the other and functions in a similar manner as the bracket 48 for the socket to hold the receptacle as a whole against vibratory movement in use. As shown in Figure 5, the bracket 54 for the receptacle is in the form of a U extending around the receptacle and its front edges bear against the backside of the dash panel. A. screw 56 extends between the back wall 16 of the receptacle and the back side of the bracket and is threaded to the latter so that when tightened it tends to draw the two parts together. As a result, the flanges or lips 26 on the front edges of the side walls l4-l4 and the lip 28 on the bottom F8 are drawn tight against the guiding strips 22 and 24 holding the receptacle against vibratory movement. The screw member 56 is accessible through the opening in the dash panel rendering it easy to tighten at any time in use if necessary. I

The closure member l2, as previously described, is preferably shaped to fit the opening in the dash panel and to extend flush with the front surface thereof as indicated in the drawings. Preferably the closure member is of the same thickness of metal as the dash panel as the cross sectional views in Figures 2 and 3 illustrate. As a result the closure member or cover may be mounted in the plane of the dash panel. The

top edge 58 of the closure member is beveled for engagement with a corresponding bevel 59 on the top edge of the opening in the dash panel. As will be explained later in the functioning of this device, the beveled edges 58 and 59 allow the closure member I2 to be swung back to the rear side of the dash panel without any interference from the dash panel and upon closing will serve as stops preventing further movement of the closure member in the direction of its closing movement when the front face of the cover is flush with the front face of the dash panel.

The novel means, for pivotally mounting the closure member for swinging movement from fully closed position to fully opened position comprises a pair of arms 6060 projecting from opposite sides of the closure member and each extending inwardly through the opening in the dash panel along one of the side walls of the ash receptacle. Each arm is pivoted to the back end of the side wall along which it extends by any suitable means such as the studs indicated at 62. The extremities of the arm 60-60 are arcuately shaped and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 project through vertical slots provided in the rear wall It of the receptacle.

Concealed from view on the back side of the rear wall [6 is means acting to hold the closure member in any adjusted position yet yieldable to permit ready movement of the closure member by slight pressure of the hand of the operator. This means comprises a double U-shaped spring member 64 shown in Figure 5 secured at its mid portion by a bracket 66 to the back side of the rear wall 16. This spring member is preferably formed of a relatively stiff yet flexible spring wire bent into the shape shown. The base portion of each U-section of the spring wire bears against the back side of the receptacle. The opposite ends of the spring wire extend past the projecting extremities of the arm l6l6 and each end carries a small sleeve 68 adapted to bearv against the arcuate portions of the arm extremities. This is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Since the arm extremities project through the back wall beyond the plane of the rear side thereof, they cause the ends of the spring wire to be flexed back out to their normal plane and as a result the ends of the spring wire exert a pressure on the extremities of the arm which is sufficient to hold the closure member in' any adjusted position. The pressure, however, 'exerted by the spring wire is not great enough to impose any substantial resistance to the swinging movement of the closure member by the operator. The arcuate extremities of each arm 60 are notched at 10 and 12 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The position of these notches correspond to the fully open and fully closed position of the cover l2 and one or the other notch is adapted to appear oppositethe sleeve 68-68 on the spring wire when the cover member is moved to either one of these two positions. As a result, in either of these two positions the spring wire urges the sleeve 68--68 into the notches and holds the closure member against movement with a slightly greater force in either one of these two positions.

A feature of this invention is the provision of means which limits the opening movement of the closure member or cover to that which allows a smallportion' of the closure member to project from the front side'of the dash panel. This is a desirable featurebecause it allows the operator to engage the projecting portion of the ensure 'WhatIclaiini member with his fingers and returnithe'm'ember to closed position without difficulty. This is accomplished by providing a stop capable of preventing the closure member from entirely passing through the opening in the dash panel to the rear side thereof. In the present embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by providing a flange 14 on the back wall lBof the receptacle at just the right height to engage the closure member and stop further inward swinging movement thereof while there still remains a marginal portion of the bottom end of the closure member on the front side of thedash panel. This action is clearly-illustrated in Figure 3. Obviously, however, other means may be usedfor stopping the opening movement of the closure member to gain the same purpose. The essential feature is not the character of the stop but the manner in which it acts to cause the closure member in fully open position to project slightly from the front face of the dash panel for engagement by the hand of the operator.

The attachment and operation of the device is readily understood from the preceding description. Summarizing the mode of attachment, the receptacle as shown in Figure 8 is carried to a position above the opening on the back side of the dash panel. The flanges 2626 on the side walls are interfitted in the guiding slotsformed by the strips 22 and the receptacle is then dropped into position. To rigidify the receptacle with respect to the panel and to prevent rattling noises in use, the screw 56-is tightened to draw the back wall of the receptacle toward the back wall of the bracket 54. By virtue of the engagement of the ends of the bracket with the back side of the panel this causes the receptacle proper to be tightened into position against the inner walls of the strips 22-22 and to maintain such rigid position in use.

To gain access to the interior of the receptacle, finger pressure is exerted on the top side of the closure member or cover l2. and this will give way inwardly as the cover swings upwardly about its pivotal axis. To swing the closure member to fully opened position it will be found desirable to engage the bottom end of the cover and raise this portion until the cover abuts the stop formed by the flange 14 on the back wall l6 of the receptacle. As previously explained, this stop is so located with reference to the cover that the bottom marginal portion of the cover is left to project slightly from the front side of the panel as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to return the cover to closed position, finger pressure is exerted on the projecting bot-' tom edge and the cover will swing downwardly with ease until the beveled surface 58 along the top edge of the cover abuts the beveled edge 59 along the top edge of the opening. When these abut, as previously explained, the cover l2 closes the opening and the front face thereof extends substantially flush with the front side of the panel. At all times in the movement of the cover, the spring wire 64 on the rear side of the back wall of the receptacle exerts sufficient force to hold the cover in any adjusted position. There is, however, very little resistance to movement of the cover. It swings back .and forth with ease. The increased leverage gained by dis- 1; In combination, a retainer plate having an opening therethrough, a housing attached to the backside of the retainer plate and having a pair of spaced side walls and a back wall and a bottom wall inclined downwardly from the back wall posing the pivotal axis adjacent the rear wall of the receptacle contributes to this desirable action.

and terminating adjacent the front edges of the side walls, means on the back side of said retainer, plate forming guiding tracks, the front edges -.of theJwalls of the housing being flanged to slidingly fit into theguiding tracks for securement to theretainer plate, a closure member fitting the opening of the retainer plate, arms projecting from the closure member along side walls of the housing and pivotally secured thereto, the back wall being apertured opposite the extremities of each arm, and means on the back wall engaging the extremities of the arms and acting to yieldingly resist pivotal movement of the closure member.

2. In combination with a supporting panel having an opening therethrough, guides on the back side of said panel arranged on opposite sides of the opening, a housing having spaced side walls and an ash receiver, mean on the side walls interfitting with said guides andslidably mounting-the housing on the back side of the panel, a cover plate of a size fitting the opening of the supporting panel pivotally secured to the side walls of the housing so that the coverplate may be swung from a closed position flush with the front side of the panel within said opening to a fully open position over the housing on the back side of the panel, and means carried by the housing acting to releasably hold said cover plate in either fully opened or fully closed position.

3. In combination with a panel having an opening therethrough, a receptacle comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a back wall and a bottom but open on its front and top side, means attaching the front sides of said side and bottom walls to the back side of the panel about the opening therethrough, an ash tray carried by said bottom, a closure for the panel opening, and means pivoting the closure to said side walls about a horizontal axis spaced rearwardly from the back side of the panel and so disposed relative to the panel that in one position the closure forms a front wall for the receptacle closing the opening through the panel, said closure being swingable to another position where it forms a top side to the receptacle, said receptacle adapted to engage the closure in said latter position limiting its swinging movement and preventing contact of the closure with the upper edge of thepanel opening.

a. In combination, a retainer plate having an openingv therethrough, a housing formed of spaced side walls, a back wall and a bottom, means securing the front edges of the side walls to one side of the retainer plate on opposite sides of the opening, a closure member conforming in shape to 'that of the opening in the retainer plate, a pair of spaced arms on said closure member extending each along one side of the side walls of the housing and having their extremities projecting through apertures in the back wall of the housing, means pivotally securing said arms to the side walls of the housing, so that the closure may be swung from a closed position within the panel opening to an open position rearwardly of the panel, and means yieldingly engaging the extremities of the arms projecting through the back wall to releasably lock the closure member at adjusted positions.

5. A dash panel having a front side and a back side and an opening therethrough,'a receptacle securable to the back side of the dash panel in such a way that the interior of the receptacle is accessible through the opening of the dash panel from the front side thereof, a closure member conforming in shape to that of the opening and being of a size to substantially fit into the opening in the plane of the dash panel, means securingsaid closure member to said receptacle for swinging movement about a horizontal axis spaced from, the rear side of the dash panel, said closure member being adapted to be swung in and out of the opening in an are from a fully closed position where the member lies in the opening of the dash panel with the front face thereof substantially flush with the front side of the panel to an openposition where the closure member lies largely above the receptacle,

said top of the receptacle being shaped in conformity with the arc of swing of the closure and means carried by said receptacle positioned to engage the back face of the closure member when swung through an arc of approximately 98 degrees, limiting further inward travel of said closure member when the bottom marginal portion of the closure member is spaced from the upper edge of the opening and a small part of the closure member projects through the opening beyond the front side of the dash panel where it may be engaged and returned to fully closed position.

6. A panel having an opening therethrough, a receptacle attached to the back side of the panel in position to'have its interior accessible through the opening in the panel from the front side thereof, said receptacle including a pair of spaced side walls, a bottom and a rear wall spaced from the back side of the panel, a closure member of a size fitting the opening in the panel, a pair of arms projecting from said closure member each alongside of one of the side walls of the receptacle, means pivotally securing each arm to the side wall along which it extends adjacent the rear wall, said pivoting means mounting said closure member for swinging movement into and out of the opening in the panel, the extremities of said arms projecting past the plane of said rear Wall, and means mountedon the back side of said rear wall yieldingly acting upon the extremities -of said arms to releasably lock the closure member within the opening or out of the opening.

7; In an automobile having'a panel with an opening therethrough,

open on its top and front sides, means on the back side of the panel on opposite sides of the opening providing guiding slots for the receptacle opening toward the opening of the panel parallel to the plane thereof, the front edges of said side walls being flanged laterally and spaced apart so that the receptacle may be guided into position on theback side of the panel opposite the opening therein by slidably interfitting the flanges of the side walls into the slots formed by said guiding means, and means on the panel below the opening engageable with the bottom of the receptacle when the latter has been guided downwardlyin the slots a predetermined distance.

8. In an automobile having a panel with an opening therethrough, a receptacle having spaced side walls, a back wall and a bottom but open on its top and front sides, means on the a receptacle having spaced side walls, a back wall and a bottom but panel opening, a bracket extending aroundthe side and back wall of the receptacle and engaging the back side of the panel, and means between the back wall of the receptacle and a portion of the bracket opposite thereto adapted to-draw the two toward one another and thus by virtue of the engagement of the bracket with the back side of the panel to tightly compress the flanges of the side walls of the receptacle against the inside walls of the guiding slots.

9. A dash panel having an opening therethrough, a receptacle having a bottom wall, a

back wall and two opposite side walls and being open on the front side, the rear face of said panel on opposite sides of the panel opening and the walls of the receptacle being provided with interengaging parts adapted to be releasably locked together to secure the receptacle to the rear face of the panel with the open front of the receptacle registering with the panel opening, a closure plate of a size to fit said opening having arms pivotally mounted upon the receptacle side walls to permit swinging of the closure from a position superposing the receptacle and projecting therebeyond forwardly through the panel opening toa position within said opening closing the same, said receptacle side walls having arcuate top edges, said receptacle having a stop positioned to engage the closure to limit its swing befor its front face strikes the top edge of the panel opening.

10. In combination, a retainer'plate having an opening therethrough, an ash receptacle having a bottom wall, a back wall and opposite side walls but open in front, said receptacle secured to the rear face of the retainer plate around said opening with the open front of the receptacle opposite the opening in the retainer plate, a closure plate of a size to fit the opening in the retainer plate and having a pair of rearwardly extending arms pivoted at their extremities to the side walls of the receptacle for swinging movement of the closure plate from the position at which it lies substantially flush with the retainer plate within its opening to a position superposing the top of the receptacle and projecting through the opening in the retainer plate, the top edges of the side walls of the receptacle being formed on an arc of a circle the axis of which is at the pivot of the closure plate arms, said closure plate arms having a width adjacent the closure plate extending toward the bottom thereof adapted to partially close the space between the arcuate edges of the side walls of the receptacle and that portion of the closure plate superposing the receptacle, said receptacle having a stop disposed to engage the rear face of the closure plate when it is swung over the top of the receptacle limiting its swing and preventing the front face of the closure plate from striking the top of the opening through the retainer plate, said closure plate having a height such that it projects through the opening in the retainer plate and forwardly therebeyond when it is engaged by said stop.

DAVID R. STAMY. 

